DWARF TREES AND CORDONS 



should become attenuated and spreading, as we see them in so many 

 places. Such spurs do not produce the finest quality fruit. A well- 

 tended tree should be columnar and should not greatly exceed 

 i foot in diameter when in its prime. 



Trees so completely under control, and therefore not " naturally " 

 grown, demand very special care for their health, more particularly 

 directed perhaps to the healthy functioning of the roots. The soil 

 about them must be constantly cultivated, that is, 

 stirred and cleaned, and the feeding very carefully 

 considered. Natural manures must not be stinted, 

 even as they must not be overdone, and should be 

 applied in the autumn. But it will be found that 

 when the trees are bearing their greatest strain some 

 immediately available stimulant will prove very 

 helpful. We are not enamoured of violent acting 

 agents, like nitrate of soda, or anything likely to 

 have detrimental after-effects upon the soil, but 

 choose rather such manures as bone meal, super- 

 phosphates, or a really good guano of approved 

 analyses. In dry weather we apply them in solution. 

 Our own experiences and the whole balance of 

 evidence go to prove the value of fertilizers when 

 judiciously used in accordance with printed instruc- 

 tions, though we would be careful to point out that 

 we do not depend entirely upon them, looking upon 

 them as stimulants to be used as supplementary to 

 and not instead of natural manure. 



Closely connected with the health of the tree is 

 the perfect functioning of the leaves, and to secure 

 this they must be kept clean. There can be no single Cordon 

 excuse for the presence of destructive insect pests 

 on trees, every twig and every leaf of which is well within reach. 

 A knapsack sprayer and a jar of insecticide locked away in the shed 

 are not going to scare away the pests ; they must be used. Grease- 

 banding and spraying ought to be part of the regular routine, and 

 deterrents used in preference to remedies. When the latter are 

 necessary, do not delay their use a single hour. 



One other detail : root-pruning. The trees will themselves tell 



24. Apple 



